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M3 EAY

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Jun 2027
Tests17 (11 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

92,595 mi
Last recorded92,595 miles
Recorded on19 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM3 EAY
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,201cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

11 pass 6 fail
Pass 19 Jun 2026 92,595 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2023 92,336 miles
Pass 23 May 2020 92,247 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2017 91,825 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2016 91,116 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 12 Sep 2016 91,114 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) fouling other parts of the vehicle (2.3.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Pass 17 Oct 2014 81,271 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

nearside front tyre has cuts but no visable cords

Fail 15 Oct 2014 81,271 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

nearside front tyre has cuts but no visable cords

Pass 7 Jun 2013 76,988 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2013 76,988 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 11 May 2010 76,934 miles
Fail 11 May 2010 76,934 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 22 May 2009 76,589 miles
Fail 21 May 2009 76,586 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Front Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 4 Jun 2008 74,214 miles
Fail 4 Jun 2008 74,214 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 5 Jun 2007 72,048 miles

How Reliable is the BMW M3?

Based on 440,678 MOT tests across 34,038 vehicles.

80.8%
Pass Rate
3,682
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
34,038
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 14,421
Brake pipe excessively corroded 7,386
coil spring incomplete 5,157
coil spring fractured 4,494
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,944
Full BMW M3 reliability report

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M3 EAY is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

Across all 1997 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.9% with a typical mileage of 96,985 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW M3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 14,421 recorded failures. If you're considering buying M3 EAY, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW M3 typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 29 years old, this BMW M3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of M3 EAY?

You can check the full history of M3 EAY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M3 EAY registered?

M3 EAY is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 27 March 1997.

Is M3 EAY safe to buy?

The MOT history for M3 EAY shows 17 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M3 EAY have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on M3 EAY. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.